Life often feels like a hurricane, a constant rush of deadlines, distractions left right center, and digital noise pulling us in every direction. In the midst of the chaos, we find ourselves searching for something deeper and peaceful, something that can't be bought or stolen. This could be peace, happiness or even solitude. Personally, I believe this longing is where the inspiration for personal growth begins.
Personal growth isn't entirely about giving up certain things or missing out, it's about making room for what truly matters. When we have consciously carved out the path we want to follow, life becomes richer. This is the moment when we begin to notice the subtle beauty in everything around us.
Growing up, I was the perfect example of a maximalist. I had everything I could ask for at my beck and call; toys, clothes, shoes, you name it. Most of these things were hand-me-downs from all my elder siblings who always made sure I felt comfortable. Materially, I felt rich and fulfilled but somewhere deep down, I knew I wasn't truly satisfied. Despite all the possessions that other kids around me were envious of, something was missing.
It took me years to understand that I was only comfortable but not growing personally. Apart from the wise words my mom occasionally shared, I had little in the way of personal experience or achievements that felt genuinely my own. Thankfully, I had a best friend who never took ‘no’ for an answer. This amazing lady took it upon herself (and still does) to ensure that I not only stood by a corner to observe life from a different perspective, but I actively participated. She ensured that I lived and not just existed. One of the reasons why she did this was because she believed that different people would always gain different experiences even when placed in the same environment and she was right. However, I believe all of her efforts would have been futile if I wasn't willing. Hence, willingness and awareness are two important ingredients for personal growth.
What inspired you to simplify your life for personal growth?
In response to the question, I would say “Longing”. The deep desire to know better and become better has driven and continues to drive my personal growth. Personal growth isn't a one time thing and it certainly isn't always easy. It can get challenging sometimes, self-doubt can suffice and most times things may not always make sense. But when the longing surpasses the obstacle, there will always be room for growth to occur.
Simplifying life for personal growth is an act of self-love because when one doesn't genuinely love themselves, they allow themselves to walk around with so much baggage, knowing fully well that they can always just let go. This act of self-love allows one to breathe easy, prioritise important things and feel less guilty when putting themselves first.
With a simplified life comes freedom, not just freedom from our jobs or our material possessions, but freedom from distractions, from unnecessary pressure and basically freedom from the weight of the world. With this freedom comes constant personal growth. This way, we live life not by default(or by societal norms) but by design.
This post is in response to the #kiss blog idea for this week which can be found here. Images belong to me except stated otherwise.